Hearing the name or walking by, many may think that a boxing club is cut out for fighters and boxing hopefuls, but when it comes to the new Title Boxing Club on Causeway Street, it is more about knocking out a great workout, rather than an opponent. “This is not a normal boxing gym geared towards fighting, it is more of a fitness club,” says owner and operator, Michael Musto, who moved to the North End this past November. “Women make up 70% of Title Boxing members nationwide and so far with our new members who have already signed up, their ages range from 18-62.”
Located at 226 Causeway Street on the ground floor of the Strada building, the spot has been vacant since 2004. The location is surrounded by the North End, The Boston Garden, North Station, and right over the bridge from Charlestown. This is the fifth Title Boxing Club location in Massachusetts but the first in the city of Boston.
Musto himself was never one into boxing, he credits his daughter for getting him hooked into boxing workouts. His daughter, who is a recent graduate of Boston University and always stayed in shape, took her fitness to the next level when she started boxing, and it did not take long for the father to notice and become curious. “It will hit you instantly, the stress relief of throwing punches on a heavy bag, while working your core and burning tons of calories, it is a workout unlike any other,” Musto continues, saying that he was instantly addicted to boxing workouts. “With such a high paced and structured class, it requires your full attention and the hour just flies right by.” When asked how good the workout is, Musto exclaimed that at the age of 53, he is back at his same weight he was in college.
Do you just go in and start punching a bag? Absolutely not. The Power Hour classes are a structured and high intensity 60 minute workout that has three phases. With the overhead speaker system blasting up-tempo music, the trainer walks around, challenging and coaching members while changing up punch combinations playing over the music. The three main components of the power hour consist of:
Phase 1: 15 Minutes: various warm up exercises and calisthenics.
Phase 2: 8 – 3:00 minute rounds of different punch combinations, simulating a round of boxing (one minute of active rest separate each round).
Phase 3: 15 Minutes of “hardcore” core workout.
Even when classes are not in session, members are always welcome to come in, work the bag, take advantage of the cardio machines, weights, medicine balls or speed bag.
Leading the classes is Cameron Andrews, who moved up to Boston from Florida, only to be welcomed by the snowiest winter in the history of Boston. “I am really looking forward to the warm weather and the club opening!” After playing basketball in college and being involved with boxing for over 20 years, he left a career in finance to join Title Boxing almost 4 years ago. “I am in the business of changing lives, working and teaching focus, endurance, and confidence, while empowering and pushing people to do things that they never thought they could do.”
Memberships are available on a month-to month basis, with a rate of $149 per month and a $99 initiation fee. The initiation fee is waved for people who sign up for a year membership, and the monthly rate drops down to $129 per month. A year membership also comes with a Title Boxing gym bag complete with wrist wraps, a t-shirt, and boxing gloves.
As for the future, Musto hopes to incorporate a “lunch time” workout that would consist of a high intensity 30 minute workout, allowing local workers to stop in during their lunch break.
People are welcome to stop in the club, call at 617-4-BOXING and visit their website at TitleBoston.com. Special discounts are offered to veterans and resident of the Strada. Sign up for a complimentary class – your first shot is always free!
Photos by Conor Finley
